5G and why the US and China are fighting over its future

Some experts argue 5G will change the way we live forever, powering a new data-driven industrial revolution China realises that the advent of 5G is its chance to get out in front for the first time in the development of wireless communications technology

The US and China are also seeking to harness 5G technology to enhance their military prowess.

5G could improve battlefield communications with faster and more stable information transmission, increasing the timeliness and integration of information.

A single 5G network could help the Department of Defence promote “improved situational awareness and decision making” that will strengthen nuclear command and control and communications, while enabling new technologies like hypersonic weapons and hypersonic defences to be deployed.

Having the benefit of patents in 5G technology and being a leader in standards would translate into the ability to build an ecosystem of network providers, device makers and application developers and create thousands of jobs in the process.